Advising Course Plan - Philosophy Major
A major in philosophy is designed to be maximally flexible. The major has few prerequisites. Students can take most courses anytime they are taught, although we strongly recommend that students take PHIL 101B before taking a 300- or 400-level class. The only courses students are required to take in a certain order are PHIL 399 and PHIL 499. Students should take PHIL 399 during the spring semester of their junior year and PHIL 499 the fall semester of their senior year. Students have also taken PHIL 399 and PHIL 499 simultaneously. Exceptions apply, as when the student is studying abroad.
Because of the major’s flexibility and because the major only requires 10 units, a significant number of our students opt to pursue a second major. Students pursuing a law degree have found this option particularly attractive. With careful planning, it is possible to receive a degree in philosophy while only taking one philosophy course most semesters. However, students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in philosophy should acquire more than 10 units within philosophy.
The following courses are offered every semester:
The following courses are offered every year:
- PHIL 250H History of Ancient Philosophy OR PHIL 260H History of Modern Philosophy
- PHIL 315V Contemporary Moral Dilemmas
- PHIL 317V Environmental Ethics
- PHIL 350V Ethics OR PHIL 316V Bio-Medical Ethics
- PHIL 351 Epistemology OR PHIL 352 Metaphysics
- PHIL 399 Research in Philosophy
- PHIL 400 Department Seminar
- PHIL 499 Senior Project
Additionally, the following courses are regularly offered:
- PHIL 284 Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 311V Philosophy of Race
- PHIL 315V Philosophy of Religion
- PHIL 309V Feminist Philosophy
The following is a merely recommended four-year plan. Note that only PHIL 399 (Third Year, Spring Semester) and PHIL 499 (Fourth Year, Fall Semester) need to be taken at a specified time and in a specified order.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | |
| FSEM 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Education Requirement | 1 | |
| General Education Requirement | 1 | |
| PHIL 101B | Introduction to Philosophy | 1 |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 104Q | Introduction to Logic | 1 |
| General Education Requirement | 1 | |
| General Education Requirement | 1 | |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHIL 250H or 260H | History of Ancient Philosophy History of Modern Philosophy | 1 |
| General Education Requirement | 1 | |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL Elective | 1 | |
| PHIL 350V or 316V | Ethics Bio-Medical Ethics | 1 |
| General Education Requirement (if needed) | 1 | |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHIL 351 or 352 | Epistemology Metaphysics | 1 |
| PHIL Elective | 1 | |
| Junior Seminar (PHIL 315V counts as a JSEM but may be offered in the spring) | 1 | |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 3991 | Research in Philosophy | 1 |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHIL 4992 | Senior Project | 1 |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 4003 | Department Seminar | 1 |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Elective or second major course | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Total Unit: 32 | ||
- 1
All philosophy majors should take this class during the spring of their junior year.
- 2
All philosophy majors should take this class during the fall of their senior year.
- 3
Students often take PHIL 400 during their senior year.